Two crew members rescued from the hull of their upturned Plymouth fishing vessel had been clinging to it for seven hours.

The search for Plymouth vessel Solstice began after a 999 call at about 8.40pm on Tuesday night, when it was reported to have overturned near Eddystone Lighthouse.

RNLI rescuers say that the two rescued men were in deep shock and suffering from the effects of cold as they were brought back to hospital on Plymouth all-weather lifeboat the Sybil Mullen Glover, reports Devon Live.

The three men were fishing onboard the Solstice PH199 (Image: Family picture)

It has since been confirmed that another man on board the trawler has died.

Plymouth RNLI coxswain Dave Milford said: "I'm not 100 per cent sure how long they had been in the water, but it was quite some time.

"We picked them up at about 2pm to 2.30am and they had been there since 7pm or 7.30pm.

"Obviously they were very shocked and very cold, although not suffering from severe hypothermia. I think they were up on the hull and mostly out of the water, but I'm not sure.

"They were in so much shock that they weren't really talking.

The coastguard scoured an area off the Plymouth coastline

"As coxswain it was my job to get us back safely into Millbay.

"It was an exceptionally dark night - dark as a bag."

The Coastguard rescue helicopter found the men using a tight grid search formation and had sophisticated thermal imaging camera kit.

"It was the Coastguard helicopter from Newquay that spotted them using thermal imaging cameras. Also it's easier for them because they are higher up and can see a wider area.

"We would have found them eventually... but not as fast."

Divers in Plymouth sound (Image: Penny Cross)

The helicopter located the vessel four miles south of Plymouth at approximately 1am, with two people on the upturned hull.

The two casualties were then recovered by the crew of the smaller Looe inshore lifeboat.

They were transferred to Salcombe’s all-weather lifeboat where they were given medical treatment by a crew member who is also a doctor.

The casualties were then transferred to Plymouth’s all-weather lifeboat, which took them back to shore and into the care of South West Ambulance.

Divers in Plymouth Sound (Image: Penny Cross)

The coxswain said: "From that perspective it was quite straightforward, but what was difficult was that we didn't have a time of last known position.

"It was a bit of a needly in a haystack. We were initially told that there were three guys and a dog on board, but the dog was unconfirmed later."